“We were able to relax in the company of people who are not going to judge you or recoil at the appearance of your child”
After burn or scald injury the problems and concerns for parents and siblings are considerable. They must try to understand both what has happened and the impact on their lives and family relationships. This interactive Family Therapy arrangement brings together NHS professionals and a number of family groups in order to share common questions and to understand the psycho-social issues for not only the child with burns but for parents, siblings and other family members.
Since 2005 we have provided a residential programme that involves the whole family of a burn injured child. This programme invites the whole family to a weekend where they meet other families in the same situation.
“I have made new friends and see that just because they are scarred, they are still normal”
ho attended a Family Weekend
Many parents experience a terrible sense of guilt surrounding the circumstances of their child’s accident. This family programme enables them to discuss issues surrounding the child’s burn openly with people who understand the emotions that they are experiencing.
The effects of a burn injury on siblings is all too easily forgotten. Including them in the weekend experience can help them come to terms with the changes in family life following an injury.
"The time scale for post burn injury rehabilitation is long and not infrequently requires a relationship between the care team and burn survivor of many years."
Ken Dunn BSc FRCS plast
